(Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

Everyone else is weighing in on this, so I might as well generate a few cheap hits putting Stephen Strasburg's name into another post.

Do I think Strasburg is one of the top pitchers in the National League already?  Yes.  Yes, I do.

Do I think seven starts for the Washington Nationals is enough to qualify him to be named to the NL All-Star team this season?  No.  No, I don't.

While I think the selection criteria that fans, managers and the league uses to determine All-Stars is faulty as best, I can only go with my personal opinion.  I just don't think a player called up after Memorial Day should be rewarded with a trip to the All-Star Game, regardless of the success he's had in those few starts.  He just hasn't had enough appearances to quality.

Now, I don't feel as strongly as Mitch Williams, of the MLB Network: 

“I don’t care if two of his first four starts were no-hitters, there is no way you can put this kid on the All-Star team after five starts. As much as he is impressive, polished, young and exciting, the All-Star Game is based on the entire first half. It will do this kid a disservice and alienate other players against him if he makes the team. Pitchers will look at him and say, ‘He’s going to make the All-Star team when I’ve pitched 120 innings and have nine wins?’ If Strasburg makes the team, it hurts the credibility of the league.”

I know Williams' statement is full of hyperbole, and he probably doesn't feel that strongly about it either.  But MLB Network sent me the quotes, so at least he's putting it out there.

Hurting the "credibility of the league"?  What a joke.  Does Williams remember this game ended in a tie a few years back?  Does he realize this exhibition decides home field advantage for the World Freaking Series?!?

Back to the matter at hand...

It would be great theatre to see Strasburg face the best hitters in the American League.  And not wanting to place undue pressure on him (yeah, right), but it's a pretty good bet we'll see Strasburg in future games.  I just think it's premature to name him to the team after just seven starts.  And he's actually said as much when asked about it.

Of course, an appearance by Strasburg would generate interest, be polarizing, maybe even controversial -- which all would make for great television.  Which generates ad revenue.  Which lines Bud Selig's pockets a little deeper.  So if you look at just the bottom line, there's your excuse for the league office to name him to the squad.

And if crusty old Charlie Manuel actually thinks having Strasburg on the team could help him seal home field advantage for the dispicable Philies in the World Series, who am I to judge?

As for the Nats fan in me, I'm perfectly happy having Stras get 10 days or so rest in the middle of what must be an extremely tiring first half of a season. 

Think about it:  he's played on three different teams in three different leagues, made his major league debut, every minor league game he pitched was in front of national media; every big league start has been a circus.  He's even been on Letterman!  It's gotta be tiring, even if he doesn't really notice it with all the adrenaline he must be running on.

If it were me, I'd leave the kid home this year.

But if they take him, I'll certainly tune in.

The Washington Nationals held a media availability for internet writers (bloggers) yesterday afternoon before the game with the Reds. John Lannan, Jordan Zimmermann, Ross Detwiler and Craig Stammen were provided for an interview en masse. After that, Drew Storen answered a few questions about draft day.

While the contents of the interviews (below) didn't produce any screaming headlines, the best news was that the Nats are slowly integrating the bloggers into the media coverage of the team.

The Nationals have had somewhat of an uneven relationship with their dedicated bloggers in the past, but are making strides towards inclusion, at least by inviting some bloggers to press conferences, public relations events and providing these media availabilities.

By my count, there are over 30 active blogs that cover only the Nationals. Of those 30, at least half update their pages on a daily, if not multiple times per day, basis.

This is in addition to the 20 or so other general DC sports blogs that offer at least passing commentary on the Nats. You can find links to almost all of these on the right hand side of my page in the "Natosphere" and "Multiple Personality" blogrolls.

That's a lot of space dedicated to a team on pace for 118 losses.

And while not all blogs that cover the Nats either need--much less want--team access, there are those of us that feel the coverage we bring to our readers, and the Nationals community at large, could be so much more enhanced if we have semi-regular access to the organization and players.

Sadly, there's going to be a day (very soon, perhaps) when newspapers are no longer able to cover daily sports economically or efficiently enough to provide the coverage that rabid sports fans demand. The need for alternative sports writing is already there--for commentary, critical thinking, evaluation. It's only logical that daily reporting will follow suit.

The Los Angeles Dodgers recently started credentialing qualified internet writers, and it's really just a matter of time before all MLB teams will have to follow suit. The NHL in general, and the Washington Capitals specifically, have been out front in welcoming "new media" to their press boxes, and in the case of the Caps, to their locker room.

Our sister site, Caps News Network (among many others), was credentialed this past season to cover the Caps, and the type of coverage we were able to provide was greatly enhanced by access to the press box and locker room.

It's a win-win situation. The blogs get better access and provide better quality content, and the team gets free publicity and a higher quality of coverage from, and for, their internet-based fans.

So with that, below is a synopsis of yesterday's media availability with 4/5 of the Nats starting rotation. I'll have part two later tonight with Drew Storen, the "other" first round draft pick.

_________________________________________________
Participating in the call were Nats Fanboy Looser, Nationals Pride, Nats 320, Nationals Review, Federal Baseball, We've Got Heart, Just a Nats Fan, and Nats News Network

Q: What is the difference between former pitching coach Randy St. Claire and current coach Steve McCatty?
Lannan: "Saint is more into the video aspect of pitching...Cat is more based on feel, based on what you see and how the hitter reacts to what you throw"

Q: Directed at Detwiler and Zimmermann, you throw a lot of strikes, but are giving up a lot of hits. How do you correct the problems are you facing?
Detwiler: "I was throwing too good of strikes." Need to work on hitting the corners, throwing more quality strikes.
Zimmermann: "I've been getting ahead of guys 0-2 then make too good a pitch instead of throwing one in the dirt or off the plate--I usually leave it over the middle."

Q: What do you remember about your draft day?
Stammen: "I was just happy to be drafted. I was excited to get the opportunity to play professional baseball."
Zimmermann: Really excited. Didn't take too long to sign, only a week or so. Went up to Vermont right away and got started.
Detwiler: Really excited to get drafted by the Nationals, to make a quick contribution to the team.
Lannan: Eager to sign, get going and start professional career.

Q: What advice would you have for Strasburg in dealing with the hype?
Stammen: "Stay humble. Keep a level head and keep working hard."

Q: For Zimmermann, how's the elbow (--ed. he was skipped a start on Tuesday)?
Zimmermann: "Just fine, was a little tired but I'll be ready to go Saturday for my start."

Q: Would a veteran presence help or are you all learning from each other's mistakes?
Lannan: "Of course a veteran starter would help, someone that's been around and knows how to win." We've got a "great vibe" between all the starters though.

Q: To Lannan, what was the difference in your last start (complete game, one unearned run)?
Lannan: "Last couple of starts I've been focusing down in the zone and letting my sinker do the work." Trusting my stuff better and having more confidence. Started off well in spring training, then got roughed up a bit.

Q: How different is pitching in the big leagues?
Stammen: "It's a big difference, that's why it's called the major leauges". "I didn't start this whole process...just to get here and say that I've gotten to the big leagues. It's time to move on and win games. That 's what we're here to do in the big leagues."

Q: To Detwiler, you're throwing more strikeouts in the bigs than in the minors. Why?
Detwiler: "Last year I tried a little too hard." Keeping the ball down and trusting his stuff. "I've really developed my changeup to keep the hitters off-balance."

Q: Is the leap to the bigs as big as we would imagine?
Detwiler: Yeah. You make a mistake in the minors it's a foul ball, but in the bigs it gets hammered. You "can't leave pitches up in the zone" in the bigs.

Q: To Detwiler, were you disappointed in getting sent down to minor league camp so early in spring training?
Detwiler: "Was trying too hard and trying to be too fine instead of getting ahead of hitters and being able to put them away."

Q: The national media is being tough on the Nats. How do you deal?
Lannan: "We don't let it bother us. Our record hasn't been that great, but we know what we can do...they are going to have their opinions, but we know what the truth is and we know we can go out there and get some wins."

If you want to hear Mr. Crow give the reasons why he turned down $3.3M- $3.5M and is willing to risk his career to pitch in an independant league until next year's draft, you can listen in tomorrow at noon to Baseball Digest Daily Live (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/baseballdigestdaily).

Eric SanInocencio, Ass't SID for the Gulf South League is the host, and he e-mailed me today and asked if I would help spread the word. Here's his e-mail:

For this week's show, we've booked former National top draft pick Aaron Crow. Aaron will be joining us in our second segment, and chat about everything that took place before the deadline that didn't allow him to get a contract completed with Washington.

The show as I mentioned starts at Noon ET, and Crow will join us right at 12:30. Our first half will feature Lars Anderson, one of the top prospects in the Boston Red Sox organization.

I'll post the link to the show below, and on that page you can archive any other show I've done.

I've had some great guests (Dayton Moore, Chad Durbin, Matt LaPorta, etc.) so feel free to check any of those out as well.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/baseballdigestdaily

Eric SanInocencio
Assistant Sports Information Director
Gulf South Conference

I have an engagement tomorrow during the day, but you can be sure I will listen to the chat once it's in the archive. It should be a very interesting listen.